Florida House Bill 965

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Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: Failed on March 13 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-03-13 - Died in Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Comm Sub) [PDF]

Removes provisions relating to voluntary trial resolution; authorizes parties to civil cases, family law cases, or probate cases to agree to or stipulate appointment of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires parties to promptly serve copy of joint motion & form on presiding judge; requires presiding judge to enter specified order within certain time period; requires appointed voluntary trial resolution judge to take & subscribe to specified oath; provides exception; requires voluntary trial resolution judge to adjudicate case until final determination of case; requires case to be returned to presiding judge; requires immediate disclosure by voluntary trial resolution judge to parties of circumstances requiring disqualification; authorizes waiver of disqualification; provides for compensation of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires presiding judge to retain jurisdiction for specified purpose; requires clerk of court to treat cases referred to voluntary trial resolution in specified manner; requires chief judge or his or her designee to make available public facilities & personnel in proceedings assigned to voluntary trial resolution judge in specified manner; requires chief judge & clerk to coordinate provision of jurors with voluntary trial resolution judge for certain actions; authorizes parties to agree to use certain facilities for other specified matters; specifies that parties are responsible for certain costs; provides scope of judicial functions of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires presiding judge to maintain jurisdiction to perform certain judicial functions; requires voluntary trial resolution judge to conduct proceedings under specified rules of court; requires voluntary trial resolution proceedings to be noticed & open to public.

Voluntary Trial Resolution

House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

Rep. Bill Partington [R]

2026-02-18 - House - House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (Y: 15 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-03-13	House	Died in Judiciary Committee
2026-02-20	House	Now in Judiciary Committee
2026-02-20	House	Referred to Judiciary Committee
2026-02-18	House	1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2026-02-18	House	CS Filed
2026-02-18	House	Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2026-02-18	House	Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2026-02-18	House	Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2026-02-16	House	Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
2026-01-13	House	1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2026-01-12	House	Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2026-01-12	House	Referred to Judiciary Committee
2026-01-12	House	Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2026-01-05	House	Filed

S1424 (Similar To) 2026-03-13 - Died in Judiciary

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
44	104		Amended Code	See Bill Text
44	1045		Amended Code	See Bill Text
44	107		Amended Code	See Bill Text

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/965
Text	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/965/BillText/Filed/PDF
Text	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/965/BillText/c1/PDF
Amendment	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/965/Amendment/868659/PDF
Supplement	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/965/Analyses/h0965.CIV.PDF
Supplement	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/965/Analyses/h0965a.CIV.PDF
Roll Call	https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Committees/billvote.aspx?VoteId=76767&IsPCB=0&BillId=83591